Junior Leadership Manatee Announces 42 Graduates
MANATEE COUNTY (April 17, 2021) – The Junior Leadership Manatee board is excited to announce the 2020-21 graduates of the year-long program that gives high-school juniors who live in or attend school in Manatee County the opportunity to get an inside view of the community.
During the school year, on days when the School District of Manatee County is closed, students participate in the following themed days: Government & Law, Health & Human Needs, Media, Agriculture & Land Use, Culture & Recreation and Business & Industry. Normally traveling by bus, the students connect with local leaders, explore potential careers and learn about community challenges, needs and resources related to healthcare, hunger, domestic violence, substance abuse, homelessness, animal welfare, agriculture, land use, manufacturing, tourism, recreation and the media.
The program culminates with a graduation dinner in which they can invite their parents. This year’s dinner was held on April 15 at Pier 22. Students are presented with graduation plaques and enjoy a keynote speaker. This year it was John Horne, Owner and President of the Anna Maria Oyster Bar, who shared how he turned around some of his early school issues and other challenges into a long and successful restaurant career—now with four locations and over 350 employees and numerous awards. Most recently, Horne received the Leadership Florida Impact Award (2019) and the National Restaurant Association’s Educational Foundation Restaurant Neighbor Award (2018).
Although this past year presented challenges with several organizations that have been regular touring places not able to grant tours due to their COVID guidelines, the students were still able to tour the following:
- Manatee County Jail
- Salvation Army
- Humane Society of Manatee
- Bishop Museum
- Hope Family Services
- Johnson Preserve at Braden River
- Dakin Dairy
- Manatee Performing Arts Center
- Waterside Town Center
- Jones Potato Farm
- Suncoast Blood Center
- Bradenton Area Convention Center
- Hampton Inn
- Easterseals
- Operation EcoVets
- LECOM
Kelly Foster, Junior Leadership Manatee 2019-21 Chair, thinks the students still got a lot out of the program because of the consistently high-ranking online surveys that the board distributes to the students after each program day, as well as verbal comments and overall high rates of participation on program days.
“Our program facilitators worked really hard to find alternative touring places and ways to keep the students engaged. We continue to receive several comments via the surveys and verbally from students who appreciated being a part of the program. Several are interested in continuing being a part of JLM by submitting their interest to be considered a student board member for the upcoming class. JLM students have the advantage of making connections with various organizations and individuals, which is valuable in and of itself, because they have actual resources to turn to in order to gain firsthand knowledge about their career interests and ways to contribute to our community,” said Foster.
Jemo Joseph of Manatee High, 2020-21, said Junior Leadership Manatee was one of the greatest experiences of his life.
“I was introduced to many new organizations I never heard of before that help improve Manatee County every day. I was able to make new connections and make long-lasting friendships with both students and adults alike.
Overall, I learned essential ideals that make a Leader who they are and the hardships they face every day. Through Junior Leadership Manatee, I now know a lot more of what it takes to be a true Leader and some things it takes to improve myself and those around me,” said Joseph.
Junior Leadership Manatee, which is made up entirely of volunteers, is fully funded by sponsorships. The Early Learning Coalition of Manatee is the organization’s Premier Sponsor. In addition to ELC, this year’s program was made possible by the following sponsors: Leadership Manatee Alumni Association, Joy FM, Children’s World, Mission Neem, Core Construction and the Sons of the American Legion (Kirby Stewart Squadron 24). To find out more about various available sponsorship opportunities, email chair@juniorleadershipmanatee.org. To find out more about the program, go to juniorleadershipmanatee.org, and follow them on Instagram and Facebook @juniorleadershipmantee.
Group Picture at Graduation Dinner (April 15, 2021):
Left to Right, Back Row: Ariana Majano (LWR), Keile O’Dell (Manatee), Colin Heina (Palmetto), Arianna Longo (Palmetto), Surain Ranajee (LWR), Seth Radebach (SCFCS), Logan Kliewer (Bradenton Christian), Jemmo Joseph (Manatee), Harrison Bakker (SCFCS), Toddrick Pollock (Southeast), Denny Lu (Manatee), Madeline Hume (Palmetto), Riley Williams (Palmetto)
Second row: Caleigh Herman (LWR), Rayline Waldin (SCFCS), Taylor Rowland (Bradenton Christian), Luke Steiner (SCFCS), Marc Farinas (SCFCS), Jhonny J Lopez (SCFCS), Elaine Yantas (SCFCS), Aleta Alvin (SCFCS), Madison Koutsoudis (SCFCS), Jessica Burdette (Manatee)
Front Row: Carlye Pepe (Palmetto), Aksharaa Praveenkumar (LWR), Alina Chacko (Southeast), Mallory Stroud (Southeast), John Horne (Anna Maria Oyster Bar Owner), Toddrick Pollock (Southeast), Gavin Andrews (Southeast) and Coral Bell (Palmetto)
Not Pictured: Hannah Agliano (Parrish), Maddy Boehm (St. Stephen’s), Hannah Camacho (Bradenton Christian), Jackson Connor (St. Stephen’s), Ariel Gates (Southeast), Lindsay Karuza (SCFCS), Jocelyn Leal (Manatee), Caroline Lehman (Manatee), Brianna Myers (Bradenton Christian), Hannah Pickhardt (Bradenton Christian), Sienna Rodriguez (Braden River),
About Junior Leadership Manatee:
Junior Leadership is designed for teens interested in becoming future leaders by enhancing their knowledge of community resources, current issues and other factors influencing the direction of Manatee County’s future. Throughout the program participants gain special access to local businesses, government, agricultural and media staples in our community and learn what career and employment opportunities are available in our county. For any public relations questions, please contact Kelly Foster at kellyfostermat@gmail.com, visit juniorleadershipmanatee.org and follow them on Facebook and Instagram @juniorleadershipmanatee.
